Reversible envelop



No. 608,752. Patented Aug. 9, |898. E. A. BURLINGAME.

REVERSIBLE ENVELP.

(Application led May 6, 1897.)

(NoMdel.)

FIG

Snowdon Z'. zorjz'ylvyama narran drame EDVARD A. BURLINGAME,

Arnim rerun."

or CLAYTON, Naw YORK.

REVERSIBLE ENvELoP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 608,752, dated August 9, 1898. Application filed May 6, 1897. Serial No. 635,327. (N0 llwdl.)

To @ZZ 'wh/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. BURLIN- GAME, of Clayton, in thc county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the nvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Same.

This invention relates to envelops, and especially to that class known as return-envelops, and it consists of a blank having flaps and wings adapted to be reversed or turned inside out to form a return-envelop, with printed mattei' primarily applied thereto on both sides of that part forming the face.

The invention further consists of a novel form of fastening device for sealing the'envelop.

The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide an envelop that can be easily reversed and is economical in that it replaces the additional envelop which is usually inclosed for return` purposes, thereby savin g the amount of paper and materially reducing the expense of return mail-matter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the envelop shown arranged by the original sender. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the envelop shown reversed and arranged by the return writer. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line a: on, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking toward the rear of the envelop and showing the latter partially folded. Fig. G is a perspective view of the improved form of fastening for the envelop.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals ofreference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a blank having a central rectangular body 2, which has imprinted on one side thereof a merchants or inanufacturers advertisement, as shown in Fig. 2, and instructions, as at 3, to refold the envelop and return samples or other matter in the saine. 0n the reverse face is imprinted the name of the manufacturer or merchant, and also such other matter as is allowable. Extending from the opposite long side of the said rectangular body are rectangular ilaps 4, having outer flaps 5 extending longitudinally of the said flaps, and to the ends of the said body are attached triangular wings or flaps 6, and at the points of intersection of the wings or iiaps G and the iiaps 4 with thc body 1 small triangular folds 7 are situated and close inwardly to secure the corners and prevent exposure of the contents of the envelop at this point. At the outer end of one of the flaps 6 is a slot 8, and in the opposite flap 6, at its outer end, are two slots 9 and 10, the slot 10 being smaller than the slot 9, and over the said ends of the aps 0 having the slots therein reinforce-pieces 11 are mounted, and at other points in the body of the envelop the parts may be reinforced as often as necessary and desirable.

In folding the envelop when first sending it out from the manufacturer or merchant it is arranged as shown in Fig. 2 and the flaps 4 are turned inward over the back of the body 2 and expose the customers name and address. Vhen the said iiaps 4 are turned inwardly, the folds 5 are interlocked and extend in different directions. This is more clearly shown in Fig. 5, and it will be seen that the triangular intersecting folds 7 are also closed with the end iiaps or wings 6 downwardly over the rear of the flaps 4 and folds 5. Vhen thc envelop is returned by the customer or party to whom it has been sent by the merchant or manufacturer, the said folds and flaps are reversed and the inner part of the body, bearing the name of the said manufacturer or dealer in the form of an address, is exposed.

A preferred form of fastener is employed in connection with the envelop heretofore set forth, and consists of a sheet-metal plate 12, which is longitudinally slotted, as at 13, to form securing-arms 14 and 15, the latter arm being slightly bent at 16 to form a small shoulder and facilitate the proper mounting of the same in position, as will be presently set forth. The upper end of the said plate 12 is rebent to form a fastening 17, and this rebent end engages the slot 9 in onerof the flaps or wings 6. The arm 15 is passed through the smaller IOO slot lO, with the shoulder 1G then positioned up Within the said slot and the arms arranged at a proper level for engagement with the pposite flap or Wing 0. In sending the envelop out the arm l5 is passed through the slot 8 in the Wing or flap G opposite to that carrying the said fastener and pressed against the inner side of the said flap when folded, the arm 14 in this instance being on the outside. When the parts are reversed,the arm Mis passed through the slot 8 and the arm l5 is on the outside of the envelop, and by this means a double fastening is conveniently provided. The object of this construction of fastener is to make it applicable for securing the opposite flaps 6 When they are reversed and to bring the arms 14 and l5 alternately in interior and exterior p0- sitions. The function of the fastener is to hold the iiaps closed against the back of the envelop, sufficient friction being instituted between the arms 14E and l5 and the slot 8 to prevent accidental disengagement, but permitting the said iiaps to be easily opened by pulling the fastener longitudinally from the said slot. The envelop as an entirety is adapted to be used in sending samples from a merchant, dealer, or manufacturer to a customer or other person, and the samples can be returned by the customer or other person after a choice has been made by the same envelop used by the said manufacturer or merehani and with a consequent material reduction in thc expense and also with advantage to both parties.

' It is obviously apparent that many minor changes inthe details of construction and arrangement of the several parts might be made and substituted for those shown and described Without in the leastl departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A reversible envelop having a body with the return address printed on one side and a sending address applied to the opposite side together with the senders name and residence, and formed with integral side flaps having outer folding portions adapted to interlock with each other When the said side flaps are turned over the body, end flaps connected to the said body and the side naps by triangular corner-folds which are bent upon each other and in part lie over the side iiaps when the latter are closed against the body, one of the end folds by its outer end being slotted and a fastener carried by the opposite end fold having a pair of legs adapted to alternately engage the slot in the opposite end fold when the parts of the envelop are reversed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing Witnesses.

EDWARD A. BURLINGAME.

XVitnesses:

S. H. JoHNsoN, A. A. WARNER. 

